The 'What If' Game

I don't think we'd end up getting any of the big names out there. I could see maybe Boozer but a Boozer-Brand-Speights frontline is almost asking to get carved up defensively (I guess Hawes isn't an upgrade in this department though - at least he's cheaper?) Possibly a David Lee as well.

Lee is a good call. He's uber-tough. I'm thinking maybe they would've made a run at Amare. Bosh probably would've been #1 on their list, but no way he was coming here. Might've gone after Al Jefferson too.

1. Sign Korver
2. Use the other 10milion or so to make a trade that brings more short term money, but shedding Brand in the process. I'm guessing 25milion worth of expirings next year (or the year after that if the player can play)

Screw Ed Stefanski. He's been on my shit list ever since he came here and shook up a ship that didn't need to be shook by trading away Kyle Korver (who was signed to a very reasonable deal) and treating Cheeks like a nobody. He never gave himself a chance to sit back and observe what he actually had and what we needed or what way to go. He just wanted to make moves for the sake of saying he made them. This guys is the actual colossal failure that Eddie Jordan will carry the label for. How in the world he still has a job is beyond me.

By the way, screw Ed Stefanski. But hey, at least he got it honest from the mortgage industry crashing and still burning - just like our Sixers have been doing ever since his arrival. Remember when we were this up-and-coming team in the East? He's brought enough fulfillment to us fans as those Ruby Tuesdays Ruby Mini's bring to ones hunger - almost none. I think I'll have to order some more of those endless Fries, which is like the last 27 years endured of franchise ineptitude - endless.

Based on who the sixers GM is and the plethora of questionable contracts handed out, I'd expect the sixers would over pay one or two guys to too many years (you know like Mike Miller and Richard Jefferson) and be happy with those first round losses for a few years.

If one were a cynical jaded person, one could say the owners are doing this because they expect the lockout, look forward to it, and know that after the lockout they'll be able to reduce all these contracts because the new CBA will require it.

I seriously doubt signed contracts will be reworked in the new CBA. I don't think there's any kind of precedent for that. The most alarming rumor I heard was the Hawks ownership thinking they don't care about the max deal for Joe Johnson because they won't own the team anymore when he's 35 and making $24M/year.

I think they will make it easier to help teams get players with awful deals (Brand, Eddy Curry, Joe Johnson in 2012) off the books. Make sense from both sides.

However, I think there's another angle: Do you think teams will be "gunning" for Miami? What if they say "hard cap, anything over must be Veterans Minimum?" After this season, the Heat would be in a bit of trouble (especially if Miller starts to fade).

I don't think anyone will be gunning for Miami. Any team would have done what Miami did, if they could have. Why not gun for the Lakers by having review board that has to OK trades for fairness like in fantasy sports?

The owners are gunning for the union, a weak union whose membership is unaware of the economic realities of what's going on. In this I'm sure they are united.

They'll go after the percentage of income that makes up any cap, they'll go for a hard cap so the MLE and Bi Annual Exception go away - not to target Miami - but for cost certainty - they'll get after guaranteed contracts.

Owners need to be protected from themselves, and that's what the CBA is all about.

Pat Riley is a quality guy who knows how to build winning NBA teams. There's probably as much chance of him begging Iverson to come back to the Heat as there is of the flyers bringing back Eric Lindros for one game to retire as a flyer.

Signed contracts can't be reworked in a future CBA because they are legally binding contracts that would supersede anything written in a future CBA.

The LT tax exemption with the last CBA(Where teams could release a guy, and then that guy's money wouldn't count against the LT) didn't affect players contracts in any way, that's why it was allowed. Players still got their guaranteed money.

Seriously... Isn't it better that Stefanski doesn't have money to spend this summer? Say what you will, but at least Brand's a starter. Some of this crazy money is being thrown at backups. I love how the NBA and Stern cry that they can't make ends meet and then throw the brinks truck first chance they get. What qualifications are there to be a GM?

Yeah, I'm in this camp, I think. The only positive thing about all of this stuff would be Stefanski's inability to have made the Dalembert trade. I don't think there's any way the team would be better at this point if they had made that move, he would've made a stupid signing, probably for "toughness."

A very interesting question. They wouldn't have landed any of the big names, but could've possibly benefited via one-sided deal in which they take back more money than they send away. Could've added two or three MLE types, but not sure how much that would've helped.

With all the former GM's looking for work & floating around the periphery, not to mention assistants at strong franchises (San Antonio, Oklahoma City for instance) it makes little sense to me that King would even be a top 5 candidate of a strong franchise unless money plays a factor.

I must say I'm unimpressed with the moves the new Nets owner has made.

Sounds good to me. By the way, I think Mike Miller might end up making your top 5 since supposedly he has no deal with the Heat yet and they might have to give up Joel ANthony to give him more money to say yes.

I worry about Love's longevity and ability to play 35 minutes/game. His defense is pretty poor, but (like Dirk), I think he's a plus in so many other areas that it's not a huge problem. If I was sure his size/health wasn't going to be an issue, I'd agree with you completely. Even with those worries, though, I'd definitely love to have him on my team.

Evan Turner's contract has apparently been finalized. Details were not released, but Sixer GM Ed Stefanski took the opportunity to respond to unnamed critics by observing that "The free chips and queso at Chili's represent good value for this franchise."

I know it's the summer league but Cousins is tearing up Minnesota right now. After 3 quarters he's got 16 points and 11 rebounds. He's looked really athletic so far this summer and doesn't seem to be carrying too much weight. I hate that Turner looked so slow and unathletic in Orlando.

Brian, I know that you never thought he was the pick for us at 2 but risk/reward didn't scare me with Favors/Cousins over Turner. I wanted Favors at 2 but we could have made a move with Minnesota and gotten Cousins at 4 and Avery Bradley at 16. Hedge your bets and draft 2 possible studs!

I think regardless of how Turner has looked (more on that overreaction in a bit) and how both guys turn out, it still is a downer that our front office didn't explore anything with the Wolves. That said, that could be on ownership or Collins as well.

Now, regarding Turner's sluggishness - same thing happened to Derrick Rose and I loved Collins' quote about those 8 summer league days being the toughest for Evan and that now he knows what he has to do. Turner is a competitor and certainly not lazy. This is a great motivating opportunity. If things do NOT look different in the preseason then it is time to start reacting; however right now its a not worth the energy.

So now I'm really curious. How does Dirk beat Bosh in win shares when Bosh rebounds much more and has a higher true shooting percentage, even accounting for Dirk's threes? I think PER has it right here.